LOS ANGELES – Approximately 270,000 customers are now enrolled in the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) Low Income Discount Program, it was announced today at the Board of Water and Power Commissioners’ (Board) special meeting held in South Los Angeles at the Department’s Crenshaw Customer Service Center. Over the past two years LADWP has aggressively worked to expand its low-income program to reach more participants.  Since January 2008 over 100,000 additional LADWP customers have enrolled.

The Department has recruited new participants through working relationships with the Housing Authority and the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, local advertising, including on MTA buses, and through a partnership with the Southern California Gas Company where Gas Company low-income customers who were not taking advantage of the LADWP program were contacted and enrolled. LADWP Customer Service Division’s goal for 2010 is to add another 30,000 more low income customers by the end of the year to reach a total of 300,000 participants.

In addition, more LADWP customers will be eligible for discounts on their water and power bills under new low income eligibility levels approved today by the Board.  The higher annual income limits conform to State of California criteria, which are adjusted annually.  Customers are eligible for the Low Income Discount and Lifeline (senior citizen discount program) rates if their total household income is at or below the qualifying income level, which was adjusted June 1st based on inflation. The qualifying income levels are set by the California Public Utilities Commission.

Household income limits, effective June 1, 2010 through May 31, 2011, are as follows:

“Our Low Income Discount Program helps people save money on their water and power bill and it is important our customers know they can take advantage of this program designed to help them make ends meet,” said Lee Kanon Alpert, President of the Board of Water and Power Commissioners.  “We know there are eligible customers in our City who are not currently participating and we want to reach them.  Money saved is money put back in people’s pockets and into our local economy.  In all, over $60 million each year is saved by customers who are most in need through this program.”

LADWP Payment Assistance Programs

The LADWP Low Income Discount Program offers a reduced rate for cost of electricity, water and sewer services for qualifying residential customers. The Senior Citizen Lifeline Program applies a discount to the energy bills of income-qualified customers who are 62 years of age or older, or permanently disabled, who provide proof of disability. Low Income and Lifeline customers are all given the opportunity to trade in older, inefficient refrigerators for new energy-efficient models through the Department’s Low Income Refrigerator Exchange Program.

All parties interested in LADWP’s low income payment assistance programs are encouraged to learn more and enroll by calling 1-800-DIAL DWP (1-800-342-5397) or by visiting the Department’s website at www.ladwp.com and clicking on “Customer Service.”

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power was established more than 100 years ago to provide a reliable and safe water and electric supply to the City of Los Angeles residents and businesses. The LADWP serves approximately 1.4 million electric customers and 680,000 water service customers. For more information, please visit www.ladwp.com.

###